Ground beef is a staple in most kitchens these days. It's not only economical but can be used in many recipes that your family will love. Let's spend some time today going over a few Kitchen Tips on how to freeze, defrost and then brown ground beef.
Don't freeze ground beef in the original packaging...
Remove ground beef from the store packaging and rewrap using plastic wrap or freezer wrap and then place the wrapped ground beef in a freezer safe plastic bag to protect the meat from freezer burn. Don't forget to write the date on the freezer bag!
Frozen ground beef should be used three to four months from the date of purchase.
Don't defrost ground beef in the microwave...
A microwave will cook the outside of the meat and make it tough before it's completely thawed.
Ideally, you should place the frozen wrapped ground beef on a tray and let it defrost in the refrigerator. Your meat should be defrosted and ready to cook in 24 hours.
What if you forget to take the meat out of the freezer the day before
and you want to prepare it for dinner tonight?
Here's what I do.
Take the frozen meat, still in its sealed plastic bag, and place it in a bowl in the sink.
Fill the bowl with COLD water.
Set your kitchen timer for 30 minutes and drain the bowl and refill it with fresh cold water.
Continue to do this until the meat is defrosted and ready to use for your recipe.
Never, ever use hot water!
Hot water can cause the outer layer of the food to heat up to a temperature
where harmful bacteria can grow.
How to brown ground beef...
Begin by heating a large skillet or frying pan. Adding ground beef to a cold pan
will cause the meat to stick to the bottom of the pan.
Coat the bottom of the pan with a non-stick cooking spray or you can use cooking oil
to keep the beef from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Using a spatula or wooden spoon, begin breaking the beef into several large pieces
and then break into smaller pieces. Continue to break the meat into smaller pieces, seasoning
with salt and pepper, until all the meat is completely browned.
Don't forget to drain the ground beef...
Ground beef releases water when you cook it, so don't forget to drain
the beef after it is browned completely.
Place the ground beef in a colander and allow the water to drain.
The ground beef is now ready to be added to any recipe...
Crock Pot Chili
Sarena @ Teal Inspiration says
Great tips! Thanks for linking up with us at the #HomeMattersParty! Hope you'll join in again next week!
Jennifer Prior says
Thanks for the great tips!
I would love to have you post on my new blog hop—the Weekend Blog Hop at My Flagstaff Home (www.myflagstaffhome.com). It begins on Thursday evenings and lasts through the weekend, if you're interested.
Jennifer
Catherine says
Dear Lois, All good tips. I love beef. There really is nothing like a good hamburger, steak, meatball...you name it!!
Take care my friend. xoxo Catherine
Vee says
I've never heard the tip about a hot skillet...will try that sometime. I always sprinkle the skillet with salt and that prevents the meat from sticking.
Jessica Jarrell says
Good tips! I remember (when I was a kid and didn't know better) trying to defrost meat under warm water. Yuck. It never turns out well.